There are so many different types of lamps on the market that one could easily become confused about what exactly is needed for tasks. A magnifier task lamp is definitely the answer but there are some things you should understand about task lighting.
You may have heard people say fluorescent lighting isn't safe. That's simply not true. Some of the older fixtures had bulbs that flickered when they got older. This was not a hazard only an annoyance. New fluorescent bulbs don't have that problem. Both fluorescent and halogen are good choices for task lighting.
Dazor is one of the many manufacturers that produces an excellent magnifier task lamp. You can find their network of dealers and distributors online with a quick search. Of course there are other companies you'll want to check out too.
Task lamps are available in different styles. The floor model comes mounted on casters so it can easily be moved around the room or into another room for storage. The clamp on styles are easily moved from one location to another as long as you have a table to attach them to. The desk base styles are nice and sturdy and allow your lamp to be free standing, however it is a bit on the heavy side to move around.
Task lamp bulbs usually last around 10,000 hours if they are fluorescent and 2000 hours if they are halogen so that's not too bad. You can buy replacement bulbs online or at your local department store or hardware store. It's always nice to keep a couple of extras on hand just incase one goes for no apparent reason. It does happen now and then.
You can also choose from different bulb colors if you like. Daylight, full spectrum, cool white, or warm white are all choices. Full spectrum lighting has become very popular because it duplicates natural sunlight providing perfect color perception. It also reduces glare, operates at a cooler temperature, reduces fatigue and increases feelings of well being. If you haven't tried full spectrum lighting before you might want to.
An 18 watt fluorescent bulb is equal to a 75 watt incandescent bulb and a 13 watt is equal to a 60 watt so you can see how you can reduce the amount of energy you use. And a fluorescent bulb will last at least five times longer.
Good lighting is important for good vision. How good we see depends on how well our eyes focus and function and the amount of light and the quality of light that is reflect from the back of our eyes. The poorer the lighting is the less light gets reflected and the poorer we see. That's why we can't see in the dark. The older we get the less light our eyes are naturally able to capture. So choosing a bulb that's large enough is important.
Task lighting is designed to direct the light onto the task being performed and adding magnification is another step in assisting the user. Task lighting can help increase productivity, your personal comfort, reduce eye strain, and save you money on energy dollars.
Task lighting can make your job a lot easier. Poor lighting and eye strain are the number one complaint by people who work in offices. In order to remain productive we need to be comfortable and if we are not comfortable our production dramatically decreases.
Straining to see is a poor use of energy and it reduces our concentration. There should be no effort put into seeing. It should simply be an automatic reflex and a task light can cure any problems relating to seeing. A simple and affordable fix.
Adjustable task lighting is very convenient because you can easily change the height or angle to meet your personal needs. And if you share a desk or work station every user can adjust as needed. Also depending on what you are looking at with the magnifier you may need a small or large adjustment.
There is a direct relationship between magnification and light. Proper and correct lighting is just as important as good magnification for good viewing. A magnifying lens would be of no use in the dark and the more you increase the lighting the better that same magnifying lens will perform. In fact the more light you have the less magnification you need for the same results and the less magnification you use the bigger your viewing field is. So evaluate all aspects of the lamp you are looking at.
Your viewing field is the size of the magnified area that is in focus under the lens. As the lens power increases the viewing field size decreases. The more powerful the lens the larger a small area of detail will look but the less of the object you will be able to see. It's always a trade off between how much you want to be able to see at once or how much detail you want to see.
A magnifying task lamp is a smart way to focus on the lighting you need where you are rather than wasting energy on the entire room. The 13 watt fluorescent bulb used by most lamps will save energy costs and you'll be able to quickly adapt to the situation at had.
